Redskins 2019 NFL Draft top twenty edge rusher big board
By Ian Cummings
No. 20-16
20. Louisiana Tech EDGE Jaylon Ferguson
Louisiana Tech’s Jaylon Ferguson has the all-time collegiate sack record to his name, but aside from production, his translatable traits to the NFL are lacking. Ferguson’s burst is almost non-existent, and he can’t turn the corner or shrink his surface area; despite his numbers, he was often exposed as a slow, stiff athlete on tape. The production itself is notable in a vacuum, but Ferguson doesn’t have the requisite athletic profile or consistency with said traits to make an impact at the next level. He has size, but that will only get him so far. The second-round talk is far too rich.
19. Oklahoma State EDGE Jordan Brailford
Jordan Brailford tested well athletically at the NFL Combine, but that athleticism doesn’t show up as consistently on tape. Brailford, at 6-foot-3, 250, has good burst off the line, and can generate momentum quickly, but he doesn’t have the torso flexibility to bend past the edge, and he’s not nearly advanced enough with his adequate length to cultivate leverage for himself. Brailford has some traits, and he could be moved to inside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, to better utilize his best traits in a rotational role. But as it stands, he has lots of room to grow as an edge rusher, which makes for both an exciting and frightening proposition.
18. North Carolina EDGE Malik Carney
Malik Carney never quite emerged at the college level, but he is, in a sense, overlooked as a prospect. He’s not the largest edge rusher, standing at around 6-foot-3, 235, and for his size, his burst and speed are only average to above-average. That said, Carney has impressive bend and a solid motor, and he has some modest refinement to his game as well. After logging five forced fumbles in 2018, Carney showed he can make a difference as a defender. Now, the only question is whether his blend of traits is translatable to the next level.
17. Penn State EDGE Shareef Miller
At 6-foot-5, 255, Penn State’s Shareef Miller ran a 2.73 20-yard split at the NFL Combine, showcasing fairly good burst for his size. This burst shows up on tape in spurts, and while he doesn’t have a great first step, he has good acceleration out of his stance, and he flashes bend and balance around the edge. Miller, with his size, length and occasional bend, has the traits worthy of a Day 3 pick, but he turns on auto pilot when rushing too often to be considered earlier. With the right coaching, he could become a contributor down the road.
16. Nevada EDGE Malik Reed
There’s a common theme with these later-round picks; they aren’t very refined with their technique. Nevada’s Malik Reed is no different, but like many, he offers an intriguing physical skill set to build around. He’s on the small side, at 6-foot-1, 234, and he doesn’t have the length or the consistent strength to be an every-down player just yet. But what Reed does have is bend; he’s very flexible, and while his burst isn’t ideal for a player of his size, he has the ability to shrink and sear around linemen. That alone sets him apart from some others, and if this high-character prospect can develop his hand usage, he could become an NFL contributor.